Engine



LSOQBLQQO O WITNESS 1. 1. WALK.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.24. I918.

Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- INVENTOR. Jaw J02 47 1761/5 A TTOR NE YS 1.5. WALK.

ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN,24 1918.

May 20, 1919., 3 SliEETS-HEET 2.

INVENTOR Ja 922 JWZk BY (/tmmd & E s s m. n W

J. J. WALK.

APPLICMIQQ FREQ JMLM. mm

Patented May 20, 1919.

3 SHEETS -SHEET 3.

. usrnn 'J. WALK, or OAKLAND, mom

Enemnf Specification of Letters Patent.

I Patented May 20, 1919.

Application filed January 24, 1e1s. Serial no. 218,477.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JASPER J. WALK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, inthe county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Engines, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to an internal cornbustion engine. I

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel form of reciprocating piston engine in which the usual form of crank shaft and connecting rods areentirely eliminated and in which the reciprocal movement is transmitted to rotary without presenting a dead center at any point during the piston travel or stroke. Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and substantial form of oscillating clutch through which the reciprocating piston movement is transmitted to a rotating shaft. Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the engine, partly in section.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 -2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section, partly in elevation, showing the clutches through which the piston movement is transmitted to rotary.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the engine, partly in section.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the clutch.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the engine, partly in section.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic detail view of the mechanism for controlling the rotaryspeed of the driving shaft.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates what might be termed the crank case of the engine and 2 the cylinders. These cylinders are arranged in pairs at each end of the crankcase and each cylinder is provided with a piston, such as shown at 3. The pistons of the alined cylinders 2 and 2 are rigidly connected by a piston rod 4 while the pistons of the alined cylinders 2 and 2 are rigidly connected by means of a p ston rod 5. Each set of pistons is in turn alined and connected to travel in unison when reciprocated. For instance, by referring to Fig. I,

it will be seen that the pistons in the cylinders 2 and 2 by being alined will both reach the point of compression in unison while the pistons in the cylinders 2 and 2 will both reach a point at the end of the exhaust stroke when. the pistons in the cylinders 2 and 2 have reached the point of full compression.

Each cylinder is provided with an inlet valve 6 and each cylinder is also provided with a plurality of-exhaust ports 7 which are adapted to be uncovered by the pistons when these reach the end of the exhaust stroke.

= The present engine shown is adapted to operate either as a two-cycle or as a fourcycle engine, but the present specification will be more or less limited to a two-cycle operation.

The heads of each pair of cylinders shown are connected by an extension or casing section 8 in which is formed a gas'intake chamber 9. This chamber is also provided with means for opening and closing the valves 6 and one of the chambers is furthermore provided with a distributer which regulates the time of ignition in the several cylinders. The chamber 9, when the engine is operated on the two-cycle principle, may be connected with a compressor or fan which delivers an explosive mixture thereto through a port or pipe connection 10. The gas thus admitted passes by the valve 6 when these are open and enters the cylinders in the usual manner when the pistons have moved to the end of the exhaust stroke. The charge thus admitted is compressed, upon the return movement of the pistons, and ignited to explode travel in absolute unison, that is, two pistons reach a full point of compression when the opposite two pistons reach the point where exhaust takes place. It must also be remembered that each air of pistons are rigidly connected by ro s 4 and 5, as shown, and that a crank shaft and the usual form of connecting rods are entirely eliminated. Means must therefore be providedfor transmitting the reciprocal movement of the pistons and the rods 4 and 5 to a rotary movement. This is accomplished in the following manner:

Suitably secured, as at 11, at right angles to a line drawn through the alined cylinders, is a pair of cross shafts 12. Turnably mounted on each shaft is a bevel gear 13 and turnably mounted on the power shaft 12 and intermeshing with the gears 13 is a pair of pinions 14 and 14. Slidably mounted on a feather onthe shaft 12 is a clutch member 15 and adapted to throw said clutch into engagement with cooperating clutches carried by each pinion 14 is a rod 16 which may be manually controlled from any convenient part of the engine. Formed on the exterior side of each bevel gear 13 is a drum extension 17 and formed on the exterior face of each drum are a series of inclined shoulders 18 (see 5). Turnably mounted on the drums 17 is an oscillating clutch member which consists of two connected sections 19 and 19 and connected to each section is an upwardly extending arm 20. One arm is secured to each clutch section (see Fig. 3) and they are spaced apart a sufficient dis tance to permit a second arm 21 to rock between the same. This arm is rigidly secured to a rocker shaft 22 journaled in the casing A above the cylinders and also rigidly secured on the same shaft is a pair of downwardly extending rocker arms 23 and 24, the arm 23 being connected with the piston rod 4 while the arm 24 is connected with the piston rod 5. The connection formed between the arms 23 and 24 and the respective rods is important. Thus it can readily be seen that the piston rods travel in a straight line while the arms 23 and 24 travel in an arcual path about the shaft 22. This oscillating movement will hereinafter be described.

The connection between the respective piston rods and arms 23 and 24 is identical and one only will therefore be described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 6, it will be seen that the center portion of the piston rod 5 is flattened, as shown at 25, and that the arm 24 is slotted, as at 26, to straddle the flattened portion of the piston rod. The arm 24 is also slotted on its forward and inner side, as shown at 27, to receive a pair of xes 28 which surround a pin 29 extending through and secured in the flattened portion 25 of the piston rod.

There is one box 28 on each side of the piston rod, and as the arm 24 is slotted on each side, as shown at 27 it can readily be seen that an arcual movement of the arm 24 is iseaia permitted while the piston rod travels in a straight line. The boxes are secured against endwise movement with relation to the slotted-end of the arm 24 by washers or head members 30 secured on the ends of the pin 29 and wear which might take place between the boxes and the slottedsections of the arm 24 is taken up by a bolt 31 passing through the lower end (see Fig. 6). The connection made between the arm 24 and the piston rod is really nothing more or less than a slotted cross-head. This is, however, double in construction as a box 28 is placed on each side of the piston rod.

The arms 23 and 24 constructed as described form a connection between the respective piston rods and the rocker shaft 22 which transmits the reciprocal movement of the piston rods to a rocking movement. This rocking movement is, of course, transmitted to tlie shaft 22 as the arms 23 and 24 of the shaft 22 is in turn transmitted to the central arm 21 which in turn transmits its movement to the clutch arms 19 and 19.

The arm 21 and the arms 19 and 19 are slotted, as shown at 32 and 33, and they are connected by means of a pin 34 which extends through the slots. This pin is carried by a link 35 which in turn is pivotally mounted, as at 36, in a crank arm 37 which may be" raised and lowered as it may be turned by means of a lever 39 secured on the shaft (see Fig. 7), this lever being locked in any adjusted position by means of a hand grip cooperating latch shown at .40. The

increases the oscillating movement of the clutch sections 19- and 19' while raising of the pin 34 naturally decreases the movement of the clutch sections, this being, of course, due to the fact that the arcual travel of arm 32 is greateras the outer end'of arm 21 is reached and smaller as its inner end is approached. The oscillating movement transmitted to the clutch sections 19 and 19 is transmitted to rotate the bevel gears 17. This transmission takes place through rollers 40 (see Fig.5) interposed between the drumsand the clutch sections. These rollers travel upwardly on the inclined shoulders 18 when the clutch sections 19 are moved in one direction-and thereby form a lock between one drum 17 and its cooperating clutch sec tion which rotates the gear 13. The shoul ders 18 on the opposite drum section 17 are reversed in position, thereby causing one oscillating movement to be transmitted to one of the gears 13 while the opposite movement is transmitted to the other gear.

The gears 13 therefore always travel in opposite directions, but, as their movement is transmitted through the pinions 14 to rotate the shaft 12, it can readily be seen that the stroke of the pistons in one direction is transmitted through'one clutch section with connected gear 13 while the opposite piston stroke is transmitted through the other clutch section and gear 13, continuous rotation of shaft 12in one direction being, however,

obtainedas the drive is only transmitted through one pinion 14 at the time and clutch 15 can only connect with 'one or the other. This clutch simply permits the direction of rotation of shaft 12 to be changed. For

instance, engagement of the clutch with the .pinion 14: may rotate the shaft to the right while engagement of the clutch 15 with pinion 14* will reverse the shaft and turn it;

to the left. Both clutch sections will, however, cooperate to turn the shaft 12 no matter whether the shaft is revolving to the right or to the left, this being due to the fact that the inclined shoulders 18 are reversed with relation to each other, thereby permitting and that their reciprocal movement is transmitted to the power shaft through the levers and the oscillating roller clutches shown. This is of great importance as it prevents the establishing of a dead center at any point of thepiston stroke. It also permits the force of the pistons to exert their driving power by a greater and more constant leverage than could be obtained where a crank shaft and connecting rods are employed.

The valve and ignition mechanisms (not shown) are operative by the oscillatory shaft 22 on which is fixed a segment 55 that has connection with said mechanisms through the oppositely extending links 56.

Their adjustment for either two-cycle or four-cycle is made through suitable mechanism (not shown) 'by a segment 58.

Another important feature of the invention is the means employed which permits the power shaft to be rotated either in one direction or another. This is a great ad- 'mitting the oscillatory shaft movement to First of all, it should be app-recivanta e, particularly for marine use as it I entire y eliminates the necessity of reversing the engme or of using reversing gear clutches such as are now employed. a

A further advantage is the provision of means for increasing or decreasing the speed of rotation of the power'shaft without increaslng or decreasing the piston speed. In other Words, it becomes ossible to obtain a comparatively high shaft speed while the piston speed is low, or conversely, to obtain a high piston speed when the shaft speed is low. This feature is very important as it practically eliminates the use of a transmission, particularly when an engine of the character described is used on automobiles.

Many other advantages are obtained, such as simplicity of construction and light weight compared with power obtained. While a specific arrangement of mechanism is here shown I wish it understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Similarly the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufac-- turer may dictate.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An engine comprising a pair of alined 5 cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting the same, a power shaft, an interposed oscillatory shaft actuated by the piston rod, and means for transrotate the power shaft, said means including an oscillatory clutch.

2. An engine comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocal therein, an oscillatory arm oscillated by the piston, a rotary shaft, and speed changing mechanism connecting the shaft to the arm for converting the oscillatory motion of the latter into rotary motion for the shaft, said speed changing means including means adjustable-along the arm toward and from its pivotal mounting.

3. An engine comprising opposed cylinders, pistons operable therein, a rod connecting the pistons, an oscillatory arm connected to the rod for oscillation thereby, a shaft having a clutch part fixed thereon, an oscillatory clutch part engageable with the first clutch part for imparting a rotary movement to the shaft, said second clutch part having a lever extension, and means adjustably connecting the latter to the oscillatory arm.

4. An engine comprising opposed cylin ders, pistons operable therein, a rod connecting the pistons, an oscillatory arm connected to the rod for oscillation thereby, a shaft having a clutch part fixed thereon, an oscillatory clutch part engageable with the first clutch part for imparting a rotary movement to the shaft, said second clutch part havin a lever extension longitudinally .slotte a second oscillatory arm connected to the first arm and longitudinally slotted,

means slidable in the slots and adjustably connecting the second arm to the leyer extension, and means for ad ust1ng said connecting means. A

5. An engine comprising two palrs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, means connecting each pair of piston rods so that they will reciprocate in unison, a power shaft, means for transmitting the reciprocal piston movement to rotate the shaft, and means for varying the degree of operatlon of said means for increasing or decreasing the rotary speed of the shaft with a constant speed of the piston rod speed.

6. An engine comprising two pans of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, means connecting each pair of piston rods so that they Wlll reciprocate in unison a power shaft, means for transmitting the reciprocal piston movement to rotate theshaft in either direction, and means for varying the degree of operation of said means for lncreasmg or decreasing the rotary speed of the shaft with a constant speed of the piston rod speed.

7. An enginecomprising two pairs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, means connecting each pair of piston rods so that they will reciprocate in unison, a power shaft, means for transmitting the reciprocal piston move ment to rotate the shaft includin an oscillatory arm, an inlet valve in eac cylinder, exhaust ports formed in each cylinder, means for positively opening and closing the valves, and means actuated by the oscillatory arm to operate said mechanism.

8. An engine comprising two pairs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, means connecting each pair of piston rods so that they will reciprocate in unison, a power shaft positioned in alinement withthe piston rods, a pair of transmission shafts journaled at right angles to the power shaft, a gear secured on each transmission shaft, a pair of pinions turnably mounted on the power shaft intermeshing with said gears, a clutch member carried byeach of said gears, a lever extension on each clutch, and a connection formed between the piston rods and said lever extensions adapted to transmit a rocking movement to the clutch members.

9. An engine compris" two airs of opposed, alined cylinders, g giston En each cylinder, "a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, means connectin each pair of piston rods so that they wifi reciprocate in unison, a power shaft positioned in alinement with the piston rods,

. a pair of transmission shafts 1ournaled at' right angles to the power shaft, a gear secured on each transmission shaft, a pair of pmions turna'bly mounted on the power shaft intermeshing with said gears, a clutch member carried by each of said gears, a lever extension on each clutch, a connection formed between the piston rods and said lever extensions adapted to transmit a rocking movement to the clutch members, said clutches being opposed to each other so that one clutch will grip. while the other rides freely in one direction and vice versa in the opposite direction, and a clutch member mounted on a feather on the power shaft adapted to lock either gear on the power said arm with the rocker arms to transmit a rocking movement to the clutch members, and means for transmitting the rocking movement of the clutch members to rotate the power shaft.

11. An engine comprising two pairs 0 opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a; rigid piston rod connecting each pair of allned pistons, L rocker shaft journaled at right angles to the piston rods, a

pair of rocker arms secured to the rocker shaft and connected with the piston rods to cause the same to reciprocate in unison, a power shaft, a pair of transmission shafts, a clutch member mounted on each transmission shaft, an expanding arm connected with the clutch members, means connecting said arm with the rocker arms to transmit a rocking movement to the clutch members, and means for transmitting the rocking move ment of the clutch members to rotate the power shaft in either direction.

12. An engine comprising two pairs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, a rocker shaft journaled at right angles to the piston rods, a'

pair of rocker arms secured to the rocker shaft and connected with the piston rods to cause the same to reciprocate in unison, a power shaft, a pair of transmission shafts, a clutch member mounted on each transmission shaft, an ex anding arm connected with the clutch mem ers, means connecting said arm with the rocker arms to transmit a rocking movement to the clutch members, means for transmitting the rocking movement of the clutch members to rotate the power shaft in either direction, and means for increasing or decreasing the rotary speed of the power shaft when traveling in either direction without changing the piston speed of the engine.

' 13. An engine comprising two pairs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, a rocker shaft journaled at right angles to the piston rods and above the same, a pair of rocker arms so cured to said shaft, a cross-head connection formed between each rocker arm and piston rod connecting said piston rods so that they will reciprocate in unison, a power shaft journaled below the cylinders and in 'aline ment with same, a pair of transmission shafts positioned at right angles to the power shaft, one on each side of same, a

80 bevel gear secured to each transmission shaft,

a pair of bevel pinions turnably mounted on the power shaft intermeshing) with the bevel gears, a clutch member slida 1y mounted on a feather on the power shaft adapted to lock either bevel gear pinion to rotate with the shaft, a roller clutch member carried by each bevel gear, an upwardly extending, slotted arm connecting said clutch members, said clutch members being opposed with relation to each other so that one clutch will grip and rotate one gear when the clutches are turned in one directionand the reverse will take place when the clutches are moved in the opposits direction, a downwardly extending, slotted arm secured to the rocker shaft, .a pin passin through said slotted arm and the upwardly extending slotted clutch arm forming a connection between said arms to transmit an oscillating movement to the clutch members, and means for raising or lowering said in to increase the speed of the power sha when revolving in one direction or the other without changing the piston speed.

14. An engine comprising two pairs of opposed, alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting each pair of alined pistons, a rocker shaft journaled above the piston rods at right angles to same, a pair of rocker arms secured on said shaft at their upper ends and connected with the piston rods at their lower ends, a power shaft, means for transmitting the rocking movement of the rocker arms to rotate said power shaft in either direction, an inlet valve in eachcylinder, exhaust ports formed in each cylinder, a spark plug in teachcylinder, means for opening and closing the inlet valves and also for closing a circuit through the s ark plugs, and meanscontrolled by the rec ing movement of the rocker shaft for operating said valve and circuit closing mechanism.

15. An enginecomprising alined cylinders, a piston in each cylinder, a rigid piston rod connecting the pistons, a rocker shaft, a pair secured to each transmission shaft, a pair of bevel pinions turnablyl mounted on the power shaft intermeshing with the bevel gears, means to lock either bevel ear pinion to rotate with the shaft,"a roller 0 utch member carried by eachbevel g ear, an upwardly extending, slotted arm connecting said clutch members, said clutch members being opposed with relation to-each other so that one. clutch will grip and" rotate one gear when the clutches are-turned in one direction and the reverse will take place when the clutches are moved in the opposite direction, a downwardl extending, slotted arm secured .to the roc 'er shaft, a pin passing through said slotted arm and the upwardly extending slotted clutch arm forming a connection between said arms to transmit an oscillating movement to the clutch members, and means for raising or lowering said pin-to increase the speed of the power shaft when revolving in one direction or the other without changing the piston speed.

16. An engine comprising opposed cylinders, pistons operable thereln, means rigidly connecting the pistons, a rocker shaft, means operable by the first means for oscillating the shaft, a power shaft, and adjustable speed changing means for transmitting the oscillatory movement of the first shaft to ders, pistons operable therein, means rigidly connecting the pistons, a rocker shaft, means 0 erable by the first means for oscillatin t e shaft, a power shaft, and means inclu ing a clutch for transmitting the oscillatory motion of the first shaft to rotate the power shaft.

19. An engine comprising opposed cylinders, pistons operable therem, means rigidly connecting the pistons, a rocker shaft, means operable by the first means for oscillating the shaft, a power shaft, means for transmitting the oscillatory motion of the first shaft to rotate the power shaft, inlet valves for the cylinders, and means operable by the rocker shaft for actuating the valves.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 15 my'hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JASPER J. WALK.

.Witnesses:

JOHN H. HERRING, W. W. Hemmer. 

